A-F.I.R.S.T.
Permanent Supportive Housing Project

Alliance-Families-Intact
Residing Successfully
Together

The Alliance for Children & Families (ACF) plans to break ground
in the Spring of 2010 on a 10-unit Permanent Supportive Housing
complex located at 110 W. Cambridge St. in Alliance.

A-F.I.R.S.T. will serve formerly homeless families and
individuals. Stark County's Interagency Council on
Homelessness (SCICH)'s 10-year plan to prevent homelessness in
Stark County requires the development of Permanent Supportive
Housing (PSH) for children and families.

A 2007 study of Stark County's needs by the Corporation for
Supportive Housing (CSH) illustrated a need for 175 PSH units
(10 for families and 165 for individuals). Currently there
are no PSH units available for children and families in the
entire Stark County area.

ACF aims to reduce the homelessness rate in Stark County
for children and families by providing 10 units, which will
provide for up to 43-48 persons annually. We will also
provide wrap around services and support for the families while
they are residing in the complex.

Description

The 10-unit Permanent Supportive Housing Project will create a
campus-like community that will take a holistic approach
in its treatment to homeless children and families. This
approach will provide for the entire family within a community
setting in a manner sensitive to the needs of homeless persons
and their families.

Included in this PSH project will be an area for case
management, homeless specialist, medical services, legal aid,
special programs area, tutorial and education instruction for
adults and children, clinical counselor/licensed social worker,
chemical dependency counselor, early childhood development
assessments, playground area, laundry, and security.

Goals

Goals include the provision of wrap-around services and support
to the families while they are residing in the complex, through
working collaboratives established throughout the community.
For example:

Mental Health Counseling provided by Community Services of Stark County
and Quest Recovery Services

Job Training services from Pyramid, Alliance Development Foundation, and
Alliance City Schools

Learning areas for children and adults with McKinney-Vento funding.

Learning site for Mount Union College students to do field studies,
placement experiences, and early childhood development lab experiences.

Operating Support

The program will be sustained with a combination of operating support
utilizing HUD subsidized rental assistance, TANF funds, and McKinney-Vento and
State of Ohio's Department of Education neglected & dependent funds for
children's educational and tutorial services.

Staffing will be funded through supportive service dollars from the Ohio
Department of Development, HUD, Mental Health, Medicaid, Social
Security/Disability funds, Grants, Internships, Volunteers, and City Development
Block Grants. Because the site will be providing space and has
established working partners for collaboration, other social service and medical
providers have pledged to provide their services without cost to the residents
of the PSH families. ACF has excellent community support for this, as well
as other agency projects, which produces generous in-kind, material, and
financial contributions.